Jamaica exposed the Matildas’ weakness despite 4-1 win, writes Emma Kemp

Sam Kerr helped the Matildas get the job done, but there were some issues. Emma Kemp writes Norway, the Aussies’ next opponent, would have noticed one glaring vulnerability.

Ante Milicic knows his team needs to tighten up. Pic: AFP

• Crystal Ball: Where Matildas will end up
• Teen star ready but Matildas staying patient
• Record breaker: Sam Kerr’s incredible haul

If Norway were watching the Matildas play Jamaica — and they would have been — a few moments would’ve made for pretty informative viewing ahead of Saturday night’s World Cup round of 16.

There were Sam Kerr’s four goals, of course — it would be naive to overlook a head of that quality.

But of equal interest was the start of the second half when the Reggae Girlz moved Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw up front and Australia, vulnerable on the break at the best of times, appeared to transform into a block of soft cheese waiting to be sliced.

Suddenly the raw speed and strength of Jamaica’s out-and-out star was tearing through a team 47 world rankings spots higher.

Sam Kerr’s head helped save the Matildas. Pic: AP

“That’s where we get done, in transition,” Milicic said.

“That move, when Shaw went up front as a No.9, we didn’t deal with it well.

“We didn’t have one in front, one behind and in the end we were dropping, we couldn’t affect the ball.

“Once she gets outside you and it’s a foot race, there’s not one team that’s gonna keep up with her, not just us.

“We conceded a goal and once it got to 2-1 you could see we were a little bit nervous. It’s a good learning curve for us … we need to be better though.”

Not just in transition, but also possession.

Yes, Kerr can put away a gem of a header despite being almost a foot shorter than half the defenders she faces.

Jamaica's Khadija Shaw evades Matildas defender Stephanie Catley and looked dangerous. Pic: AFP

She said herself after the game she’s “just naturally gifted”, that she grew up watching Tim Cahill.

But playing everything wide and crossing into the box in the hope your star player will finish the job isn’t always going to do the trick against intelligent opponents.

For the tournament’s lowest-ranked team that had conceded eight goals and scored none before this match, Jamaica looked far too dangerous.

If 12th-ranked Norway haven’t already figured it out then others further down the line — England or Japan loom in the quarter-finals — will.

The Matildas would benefit from adding more central movement to their repertoire.

“We were a bit predictable going wide and when those crosses weren’t beating the first defender we weren’t there to pick up the second ball,” Milicic acknowledged.

Matildas coach Ante Milicic knows his team needs to tighten up. Pic: AFP

“At times we need to realise we don’t have to score from every attack. We need to keep it, go on one side, come back out and go the other way and be patient.

“When we do that we look good, but at times we just put ourselves under unnecessary pressure.

“But in the end it’s 4-1, we go through to the next round as second in a tough group and we back ourselves.”

Norway will back themselves too, having finished second in their group to hosts France.

How much closer the Matildas edge towards the finished product in the next three days will dictate whether or not the journey ends in Nice.